Forget fantasy rugby says Ashton as Australia call up the Rodzilla

No one seems entirely certain how England will fare against Australia this weekend, not least because the Wallaby coaches know the opposition better than they do some of their own players. John Connolly and his assistant Michael Foley have spent more hours coaching Premiership forwards this season than Andy Robinson or John Wells and, as a result, normal pre-match secrets do not apply.

Instead, as the former Bath coach Connolly unveiled his first selection since succeeding Eddie Jones, both sides are aware their weaknesses are common knowledge. Australia may have named the heaviest front row in their history, with the 20st Queensland prop Rodney "Rodzilla" Blake making his debut at tight-head, but they remain concerned about England's scrummaging strength while the tourists are wary of the powerful Wallaby backline.

England's reinstated attack coach Brian Ashton is realistic enough to know his new-look backline may not click instantly and has warned that youngsters like Tom Varndell and Mathew Tait face a "real test of their character" on Sunday. "I haven't the slightest doubt they will be tested by players running at them," said Ashton. "However good they are with the ball in hand, if they can't handle that we're going to have problems.

"I'd also imagine, whatever they say, that Australia aren't quite sure what is going to happen on Sunday either. There are two new coaching outfits and a lot of new caps on either side. It'll be a question of how we stand up, not just as rugby players but as people. Apprehensive would be the wrong word but if we give our young players a little bit of freedom to play, they've got to give us some discipline in terms of their accuracy. They can't disappear and play fantasy rugby. Australia v England in a Test match is the real deal."

Across town at the Wallaby team hotel in Parramatta yesterday there was similar acknowledgment that Australia cannot afford to show the same scrummaging frailties so starkly exposed by England at Twickenham last November. "Our set-piece game is something we haven't focused on for a long time," said Foley, hopeful that the Tongan-born Blake, another hefty debutant in Tai McIsaac and the 22-year-old loose-head Greg Holmes will provide a steadier platform. Assistance will be provided by a beefed-up back five which features Rocky Elsom at No8 alongside the recalled Daniel Heenan and the outstanding George Smith.

Scott Johnson, the caretaker coach of Wales during this year's Six Nations before returning to Australia to assume a new role as the Wallabies' attack coach, has also questioned the wisdom of criticising the captain George Gregan, described by England's defence coach Mike Ford this week as an "east-west" player who only runs sideways these days. "He might be in for a rude shock," retorted Johnson. "George has played 118 Tests ... if he's an 'east-west' player there should be more of them. Rest assured we're going to run at them."

The prospect of Lote Tuqiri, Chris Latham, Stirling Mortlock and Mark Gerrard, all of whom weigh in the region of 16st, crashing into significantly lighter defenders such as Varndell and Iain Balshaw is another potential headache in every sense for England, while Johnson argues Australia's dire run of eight losses in their last nine games is not as bad as it looks. "People forget those defeats have not been by very wide margins to some good teams. They haven't been beaten by any mugs."

England's captain Pat Sanderson, meanwhile, insists his stiff groin is fine and will not prevent him playing. He also brushed aside pessimistic comparisons with the last occasion a weakened England team visited Australia in 1998, losing 76-0 in Brisbane.

"Our strength in depth now is vastly different," he said. "Anything that has happened previously is irrelevant. Having a side that isn't massively experienced is to my advantage in some ways. No one's got fixed ideas about what should happen. We've been very open-minded and we're looking forward to this game."

Will Greenwood's fifth-minute try was a perfect start. Joe Roff notched a penalty before Mike Tindall finished a slick move. Two Roff penalties made it 12-9 but Wilkinson replied and Ben Cohen decisively added a try. Wendell Sailor's score came too late.

Australia 17 England 20

November 22 2003, Sydney

England won the World Cup after a drop-goal from Jonny Wilkinson in extra-time's dying seconds. Lote Tuqiri scored first before three Wilkinson penalties and a Jason Robinson try. Three Elton Flatley penalties ensured extra-time. Wilkinson, right, and Flatley struck a penalty each before the dramatic end.